Fred Popowich, Executive Director, Big Data Initiative, SFU

Fred Popowich, Executive Director, Big Data Initiative, SFU

Dr. Fred Popowich is a leading computing scientist and seasoned administrator at Simon Fraser University, Canada’s leading engaged university. As Executive Director, he is responsible for leading and implementing KEY, SFU’s Big Data Initiative, which engages people in advanced computing for innovation in teaching, research, and community impact.

Dr. Popowich is a leader who works closely with industry, communities, and SFU partners to help Canada address the greatest challenges and opportunities in big data. Both locally and internationally, he facilitates connections between industry partners and expert SFU researchers, as well as the next generation of big data talent through SFU’s Professional Masters in Big Data program. The goal is to collaboratively solve real world problems.

Extremely active in technology commercialization, his ties to industry include being a Founding Director of AILIA (Canada’s Language Industry Association), Founding Director of the Vancouver Institute for Visual Analytics, President of the Canadian Network for Visual Analytics (CANVAC), and Co-Founder of Axonwave Software where he also held various senior roles until the company was acquired by Matrikon (since been acquired by Honeywell).

Dr. Popowich received his PhD in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Edinburgh and since then has been a faculty member in the School of Computing Science at SFU. His research examines how computers can be used to process human language, either to make it easier for human beings to interact with computers or to make it easier for humans to interact with each other.